Pforzheim City Plans to trial a Four-Day Workweek Schedule.
City utilities Stadtwerke Pforzheim in Germany have implemented a four-day workweek as part of their ongoing efforts to improve work-life balance and increase employee satisfaction. Here are the details and results of their four-day week implementation:
Implementation Details:
The four-day workweek was introduced either as a pilot project or phased in gradually. Employees now work the same total weekly hours, compressed into four days instead of the traditional five. This change reduces weekly working time from 39 hours to approximately 37 hours.
The SWP workforce was involved in the conception of the new four-day work week model. The expansion of mobile work, a result of positive experiences during the pandemic, also played a significant role in this change.
Not all employees necessarily shifted to four days; some roles may still require traditional schedules due to operational needs. Department schedules and customer service operations were adjusted to maintain service continuity despite the shorter workweek.
Results:
Reports indicate higher job satisfaction and better work-life balance among employees who have transitioned to the four-day week. Productivity levels have been maintained or improved, with employees reporting more focus and efficiency during working hours.
The utility has noted some positive impact on attracting and retaining staff due to the innovative work model. However, some logistical challenges in scheduling and customer service coverage have been encountered but managed effectively.
Ulrike Adam, head of personnel and services at Stadtwerke Pforzheim, explains that the new four-day work week model is intended to benefit both long-serving employees and future ones. SWP managing director Herbert Marquard has great confidence in the workforce and believes that the introduction of the new model will be positively received and well-implemented.
While detailed quantitative data from Stadtwerke Pforzheim’s four-day workweek experience is not widely published, their initiative aligns with growing trends among European and German companies experimenting with reduced workweeks to foster better workplace cultures without sacrificing operational effectiveness.
Starting from January 2024, Stadtwerke Pforzheim will test a four-day work week for employees. Employees had the opportunity to express their concerns and wishes in discussion rounds with management, the personnel department, and the SWP works council. The free working day will be decided in consultation with the respective team. The hourly wage for employees will effectively increase due to the reduced working time, and full wage compensation will be provided to ensure that the reduced working time will not affect employees' monthly salary.
The four-day week is viewed by Stadtwerke as a "deep appreciation for the work done in recent years" and a step towards the four-day week for all employees if the model is well received and all processes continue to run smoothly. This change is not just a benefit for long-serving employees but also for future young talents.
- Stadtwerke Pforzheim's implementation of a four-day workweek is part of their strategy to improve employee satisfaction, which includes a shift from five to four days of work while maintaining the same total weekly hours, aiming to enhance work-life balance and productivity.
- The new four-day workweek model, a result of collaboration with the SWP workforce and positive experiences from mobile work during the pandemic, has seen a rise in job satisfaction, better work-life balance, and maintained or improved productivity among employees.
- Stadtwerke Pforzheim, recognizing the four-day workweek as a tool to attract and retain staff, plans to test this model for all employees from January 2024, aiming to benefit both long-serving employees and future talents, while ensuring financial compensation to maintain monthly salary levels.
